Thoughts on today's Christian world and how it fits into secular society.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

How rich are you?

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God! . . . Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God (Mark 10:25-27, NLT).

In 1923, a very important meeting was held at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago. In attendance were nine of the world's most successful financiers, men who had found the secret of making money. Now, decades later, let us see what happened to these men.

The president of the largest independent steel company, Charles Schwab, died bankrupt and lived on borrowed money for five years before his death.

The president of the largest utility company, Samuel Insull, died a fugitive from justice and broke in a foreign land.

The president of the largest gas company, Howard Hopson, went insane.

The greatest wheat speculator, Arthur Cotton, died abroad, broke.

The president of the New York Stock exchange, Richard Whitney, spent time in the famous Sing-Sing Penitentiary.

The member of the President's Cabinet, Albert Fall, was pardoned from prison so that he could die at home.

The greatest "bear" on Wall Street, Jesse Livermore, died a suicide.

The head of the greatest monopoly, Ivan Krueger, died a suicide.

The president of the Bank of International Settlements, Leon Fraser, died a suicide.

All of these men learned well the art of making money, but not one learned how to live.

What do you think all this tells us?

Many people search for security and the abundant life through getting money and possessions, through marriage, career, or other intense interests, which can become idols in our lives, which we worship with our time and energy. However, security is found only in a right relationship with our great Creator God and Savior.

Why set affections on the gift rather than on the giver? God alone owns the world. The cattle on a thousand hills are His (Psalm 50:10). He alone can supply our every need (Philippians 4:19). There is no security in any plan which denies God as Lord of our lives and of all that we possess.

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2, KJV).

There's nothing wrong with having money and possesions, but remember that they're a blessing from God, and when we put Him first, then the we'll have true wealth; eternal life. Oh, by the way, money can't buy you that....:)